Library Skills Workshops in the Library Computer Lab: Find a Book

 

Library Map
Click here for a detailed map of the library.

 

Check it out and take it home:

• "Main Stacks" books are located on the tall bookshelves (called "stacks") of our library.
• "Children's Literature" books are located in the short shelves between the tall "stacks", close to the windows of our library.
• To check them out, take the book and your student ID to the Circulation Desk in the center portion of the library.
  • Most of these types of books can be checked out for 14-day periods (two weeks), with up to two renewals when a hold is not put on the book by another students.  You can see details about checkout, holds, returns, and fines on the library's Policies page.

 

Resources to use that stay in the library:

• "Periodicals," such as magazines and newspapers, cannot leave the library.  Copiers and scanners are available for use.
• "Reference" books, such as encyclopedias, atlases, and annuals, are located in the shorter "stacks" behind the Reference Desk.  These books are available to use while in the library but cannot be taken out of the library.
• "Reserve" items, such as textbooks and old exams that your instructor set aside for use by your class, are located behind the Circulation Desk in the center portion of the library. 
  • These items may be checked out for a time longer than a few hours.  Check with the Circulation Desk or librarian to find out what your instructor has allowed.

---

Pro Tip: Ask a librarian! A librarian is always ready to help. 

 

WHAT IS  YOUR BOOK'S ADDRESS?
Call numbers in the library.

FIND YOUR BOOK ON THE SHELF  ♦  HOW IT WORKS  ♦  CALL NUMBER MEANING  ♦  READ A CALL NUMBER

 

Academic libraries, including the Cerritos College Library, use the Library of Congress ("LC") classification system to organize library materials.

The goal of the LC system is to organize material by subject so that like-subjects are shelved together.  Each item is given a "subject heading" (like a hashtag) that correlates directly with an LC "call number" (like an address) that tells us where the books is located in the "stacks" (book shelves).

 

 

 

 

 

FINDING YOUR BOOK ON THE SHELF
For those of you who want to jump right in, here is information on where to find your book. 
If you're confused or want more information about how the LC system works, read below before venturing out into the stacks.

Call numbers are arranged line by line, just as they are read, starting with the letter or letters in alphabetical order:

In our library, the call numbers are alphabetized from left to right, starting on the South (back) side of the library.
Items are arranged on the shelves from left to right, top to bottom, according to call numbers.

Library Map

 

 

HOW DOES IT WORK?

The letters range from A through Z, and can be one or two letter combinations. The combinations of letters and numbers that are assigned to books are called CALL NUMBERS.  The first letter of the CALL NUMBER designates a broad subject range. The second letter denotes a refinement or division of the subject indicated by the first letter.The letters and numbers that follow refine the topic even more.  Every book has a unique call number but call numbers can be very similar if two books are about the same topic.

For example:

P     Language and Literature

PS   American Literature

Q     Science

QH   Biology

R      Medicine

RT    Nursing

T     Technology

TK    Electrical Engineering

 

WHAT DOES A CALL NUMBER MEAN?

Since the Library of Congress Classification system arranges materials by subjects, call numbers can tell you a lot about a particular book.

• The first section of the call number represents the subject of the book.
• The letter-and-decimal section of the call number often represents the author's last name.
• The last section of a call number is often the date of publication.

 

HOW DO YOU READ A CALL NUMBER?

Library of Congress call numbers are usually four or five lines. On the shelves, books are arranged alphabetically by the letter or letters on the first line and then numerically and alphabetically line by line.  The first line places the book in its subject area on the shelves.

Think of using the CALL NUMBER to locate a book in the same fashion that you use an address to locate a house on a street. Like an address, a call number gives you the information from the very general (city and state) to the very specific (apartment number). The following example show how call numbers are arranged, going from the very general (Library of Congress classification letters) to the very specific (using numbers and decimals).

 

---

NEED TO KNOW MORE?
The librarians have created a Guide specifically for the Library of Congress system.  Please click here for detailed information.

---

Pro Tip: Once you've mastered our library's shelving system, you'll be able to use all the UC and CSU's libraries! 
Since all academic libraries use the Library of Congress classification system, you'll be able to find the books you're looking for no matter which library you visit.  Simply ask for directions to their stacks and you're on your way!